A graphic illustration of the border between the nascent development of the mid-west and the wilds of the western United States. This map, clearly acquired from the earlier efforts of the Colton firm, shows Minnesota within a few years of statehood, and the eastern portion of what became the Dakota Territory in 1861. Minnesota is shown broken into counties, and the southeast into survey quadrants. Towns, roads, and other signs of progressing settlement are indicated. To the west, the part of Dakota illustrated is devoid of counties and railroads, and only five towns are large enough to be indicated. Little information was available of the far northwest, with the Missouri, a few creeks and two forts the only details shown. A printed text at the top says, "The vast region of Prairies from Red River of the North and Mini Wakan I. to about the Gr. Bend of the Missouri R. is the great Hunting and Fighting Ground of Kdakotah, Odjibwe, Assiniboin, Arikara, Minitarree and other Nations."

Interestingly, this map shows one inconsistency, with Rock County labeled as Pipestone, and vice versa. Both counties were founded in May of 1857. This error continued to appear is succesive editions, and still later in some of the maps published by the S. A. Mitchell firm of Philadelphia during the 1860s. $150

A later edition of the map above with an attractive border. Based on the map above, also published by Johnson & Ward, this edition shows updated political information such as Becker County, established in March of 1858. $200

S. Augustus Mitchell, Jr., of Philadelphia, was one of the largest map publishers of the middle of the nineteenth century. The firm was founded by his father, who from the middle of the nineteenth century, issued atlases and maps of all parts of the world in all formats. The Mitchell atlases contained up-to-date maps which were as attractive as they were accurate. This is a fine example of the Mitchell firm's output. Interestingly, this map shows one inconsistency, with Rock County labeled as Pipestone, and vice versa. Both counties were founded in May of 1857. This error seems to have begun in an earlier published map of the state by Colton. $80

S. Augustus Mitchell, Jr., of Philadelphia, was one of the largest map publishers of the middle of the nineteenth century. The firm was founded by his father, who from the middle of the nineteenth century, issued atlases and maps of all parts of the world in all formats. The Mitchell atlases contained up-to-date maps which were as attractive as they were accurate. This is a fine example of the Mitchell firm's output, showing Minnesota in 1872. This was a period of significant development and growth in the state, as documented by the dense settlement in the southeast. Of note also are the many railroads shown crossing the state, mostly in the southern parts. $75

A detailed map from the Philadelphia publishing firm of William M. Bradley & Bro. While Philadelphia was no longer the main center of cartographic publishing in North America by the late nineteenth century, many fine maps were still produced there, as is evidence by this map. Topography, political information, towns, roads and physical features are all presented neatly and clearly. An inset is included at the top right of the northeastern tip of the state. $125

From a delightful series of maps issued by the Arbuckle Bros. Coffee Company. This firm was founded by John and Charles Arbuckle of Pittsburgh, PA. They developed a machine to weigh, fill, seal and label coffee in paper packages, which allowed them to become the largest importer and seller of coffee in the world. Their most famous promotional program involved the issuing of several series of small, colorful trading cards, one of which was included in every package of Arbuckle's Coffee. These series included cards with sports, food, historic scenes, and--one of the most popular--maps. The latter cards included not only a map, but also small illustrations "which portrays the peculiarities of the industry, scenery, etc." of the region depicted. These cards are a delight, containing informative maps as well as wonderful scenes of the area mapped. $60

[Minneapolis.] From New General Atlas of the World. Chicago: Rand, McNally & Co., 1895. 11 3/8 x 9. Cerograph, with full original color. Good condition.

A late nineteenth century map from the early days of the Rand, McNally & Co. firm out of Chicago, a company that would shift the center of cartographic publishing from the east coast to the mid-west. Typical of the firm's work, this map has very good detail precisely and neatly exhibited. Topographic and social information about Minneapolis is neatly illustrated. Aesthetically and cartographically, it foreshadows the maps of the twentieth century. A lovely and colorful map of the city. On verso "St. Paul" (below) $30

[St. Paul] From New General Atlas of the World. Chicago: Rand, McNally & Co., 1895. 11 3/8 x 9. Cerograph, with full original color. Very good condition.

A late nineteenth century map from the early days of the Rand, McNally & Co. firm out of Chicago, a company that would shift the center of cartographic publishing from the east coast to the mid-west. Typical of the firm's work, this map has very good detail precisely and neatly exhibited. Topographic and social information about St. Paul is neatly illustrated. Aesthetically and cartographically, it foreshadows the maps of the twentieth century. A lovely and colorful map of the city. On verso "Minneapolis" (above) $30

"Minnesota." Chicago: George F. Cram, 1903. 23 7/8 x 17. Cerograph. Separately issued folding map. Separated from (but accompanied by) original paper cover. Two tears at left edge (no more than 7/8" into image). Light wear along fold lines; small loss at lower right corner. Else, very good condition. With inset map of Twin Cities region.

Claiming that buyers could double their money, Minneapolis land agent Franklin Benner used maps like this to attract clients ready to buy on "easy terms." Layering his slogans over Cram's informative maps (which also illustrated rail lines snaking up from the Twin Cities), Benner turned an ordinary map into promotional material. With urgings to purchase immediately "as prices will continue to advance," he aggressively marketed land throughout the northern Midwest, including this patch of land in frigid, iron-rich Cass County, Minnesota at the edge of the Iron Range. As iron and manganese mines flourished in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the logging industry also reached a high point in production, peaking around 1900 as water and rail transportation streamlined lumber movement.

Surprisingly, Benner advertises "improved farms" for sale in this area, as well as "wild lands." Dominated by logging and mining, the tree-covered areas around Leech Lake were much less suitable for agriculture than the more heavily settled prairies to the south. Enterprising to say the least, Benner probably used this map to market less saleable lands to uninformed outsiders. Folded into its compact paper cover, this map could be easily mailed to potential customers, who were invited to write Benner with "full particulars" of what they wanted. Colorful and detailed, this is a fascinating document of Minnesota land sales and settlement. $225